The long-awaited mega boxing fight between Floyd Mayweather and his UFC Challenger, Conor McGregor, is happening after all.
Maymoney, who enjoyed a spotless money-spinning career as an undefeated boxer, told fans earlier this year that the rumors weren’t baseless, and now he has a deal to prove his self-acclaimed status as the World’s Best isn’t for nothing.
The 40-year-old retired in 2015 with an unbeaten record of 49-0.
“McGregor is a tough competitor,” BlackSportsOnline.com quotes May as saying. “People all around the world demanded this fight so I had to give them what they wanted to see.
“They asked for this fight. I was in retirement, but they wanted me back and I’m back.”
The fight is scheduled to hold in Las Vegas on 26 August, contrary to previous speculations from sports analysts.
“I’ll tell you what, for $100 million, I’ll sit for another year,” the mixed martial artist said earlier this year.
With a reported $1b at stake, the fight is expected to break world/sports records as the highest gross earner.
The Irish kick-boxer will get a mouth-watering paycheck of $100m from UFC’s paycheck, we reported earlier.
McGregor’s decision to fight the legendary boxer is a dream come true, although he has never competed as a professional boxer.
The odds are therefore high on Mayweather’s side for the pound-to-pound 12-rounds fight.
Hatton, a 36-year-old professional boxer who lost to Mayweather in 2007 after a tensed 10 rounds, says there’s no integrity in the proposed fight of the decade between a martial artist and an all-time best in the sport.
The British boxer is of an opinion that the fight will be highly entertaining, but argued in favor of Maymoney, who he believes will win every round.
Speaking with BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek, he said: “I can’t say I’m a fan of it.
“I’m a fan of UFC, a fan of McGregor – he’s got character, he’s exciting, entertaining, value for money.
“I hope I don’t upset any Irish fans or Conor, but I can’t get excited about this fight one bit.”
“It’s going to be great entertainment – that’s the most complimentary I can be about it. It’s two different sports.”
McGregor confirmed the upcoming fight with a tweet, “THE FIGHT IS ON,” shortly before The Best Ever followed with “It’s Official.”
Showtime Sports executive vice president Stephen Espinoza said in a statement that both fighters have a 50-50 chance of coming out victorious.
“We’re not only drawing from the universe of boxing fans and the universe of MMA fans, we’ve actually tapped into the audience that doesn’t follow either sport,” Espinoza said.
“This is an unprecedented event.”
Image: Conor McGregor
Hatton added, “When I look at some of the people Mayweather has beaten like Saul Alvarez – he’s not going to be as big a puncher as Alvarez, and he couldn’t lay a glove on him.
“I feel embarrassed to say this, but I’d be very surprised if (McGregor) wins a round.
“I hope he does well, I hope he wins; there’s no doubt whose corner I‘m in, but if you’re asking me to be brutally honest I can’t see anything other than a shutout for Mayweather. I think it could be a 12-round onslaught, to be honest with you.
“Boxing and UFC have to take the blame for it – I don’t think you can blame the fighters because it’s going to be a stack of money.
“Good luck to the boys. Who’s going to turn their back on that? I just can’t say I’m a fan of this.
“I‘ve been fans of both sports, but they’re their own individual sports and they should stick to their own.”
